Patient Information

First Aid

If a wire causes irritation, push the wire away from the area using the eraser end of a pencil or a Q-Tip. If the wire cannot be tucked away, cover the end of the wire with a small piece of wax, a cotton ball, or a piece of sugarless gum until you can see Dr. McInnis for an adjustment.

If an ulcer develops on the cheeks either from trauma or for an unknown reason, wax may be placed on the brackets that oppose the ulcer to reduce irritation. Ulcers may have many causes. The most common causes are mechanical irritation and aphthous ulcers also known as canker sores.( see FAQ to get more info on canker sores)

If the main wire has come out of the tube or pipe on your back molar tooth, attempt to reinsert the wire with a pair of needle-nosed pliers or tweezers. If the wire is not sticking you, place a piece of wax over the area. If the wire is sticking you and wax does not help, the wire can be cut with a small wire cutter or toenail clipper close to the back of the last brace. This is a last resort if professional help is unavailable.

In case a rubber spacer falls out, take two pieces of dental floss and insert them through the spacer. Pull on both pieces of floss to stretch the spacer, then slide the spacer back and forth between the two teeth where it belongs. Once the bottom half of the spacer slips under the tight spot between the teeth, release and remove the floss and the spacer will fit back properly.

If a bracket becomes loose, it usually remains connected to the main wire by a door that holds the arch wire into the bracket. Eyebrow tweezers can be used to reposition the brace if it flips around the wire and becomes a source of irritation. Call our office and inform us of your situation.

If a piece of your braces break, save the piece and call our office to schedule a repair visit.

Remain calm if you swallow a piece of your appliance. This will usually go into the stomach, passing out of the body in a bowel movement. However, should difficulty breathing be experienced you should seek immediate medical attention. X-rays will be taken to determine the location of the swallowed piece.

If a retainer cracks, remove the retainer from your mouth and bring all the pieces to our office for professional repair.

Take Aspirin, Tylenol or Ibuprofen (unless allergic) if your teeth are sore after a monthly visit.

Rinsing your mouth with a cup of warm water and teaspoon of salt can also be soothing. If you teeth get sore suddenly in the middle of the month, give us a call. It is unusual for the teeth to get sore several weeks after your last office visit.

If food becomes stuck between your teeth, use dental floss or a proxy brush to dislodge the food.

If you cut your gums, tongue or the inside of your cheek, apply finger pressure to the bleeding site for several minutes. If the bleeding does not clot, call your orthodontist or family dentist.

There is someone available to answer your questions should you need assistance. Our office hours are Mon-Thur. 8am- 5pm and Fri 8am-12:30 pm. If an emergency arises outside of these hours page Dr. McInnis at 827-2194. Emergencies will be worked into our schedule prior to 3pm. We have two offices for patient convenience, so make sure you confirm which location we are in before driving to our office.